Congrats Christy Winners & Carol Finalists!

I apologize for being late with my posting, but I do have a good reason: I've spent the past two days riding roller coasters with my family. Who has time to be on the web when you're having fun with family? Priorities, right?

But, naturally, in my absence, the Christian literary world hasn't been quiet as the 2012 Christy Award winners and the ACFW Carol finalists have been announced. I'm thrilled that two of my favorite books from last year (Words by Ginny Yttrup and The Queen by Steven James) took home Christy's. And in the Carols, three Minnesotans (Julie Klassen, Erica Vetsch, and Susan May Warren) are represented.

Congratulations to all!

2012 Christy Award Winners & Finalists

2012 Carol Award Finalists

2012 Christy Award Nominees

Once again the The Christy Awards have chosen the best in Christian fiction as finalists. I've read a number of these books (marked with *) and am not surprised at their nomination. A few more are on my to-read list. I'm also excited to see two Minnesotan's represented: Susan May Warren and Julie Klassen.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the nominees!

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House Publishers)
Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
*Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig (Barbour Publishing)

CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS
The Amish Midwife by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould (Harvest House Publishers)
*Dancing on Glass by Pam Ewen (B&H Publishing Group)
The Touch by Randall Wallace (Tyndale House Publishers)

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
*Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)
*Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
*Words by Ginny Yttrup (B&H Publishing Group)

FIRST NOVEL
*An Eye for Glory by Karl Bacon (Zondervan)
*Southern Fried Sushi by Jennifer Rogers Spinola (Barbour Publishing)
*Words by Ginny Yttrup (B&H Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL
Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman (Tyndale House Publishers)
Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
To Die For by Sandra Byrd (Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster)

SUSPENSE
*Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins (B&H Publishing Group)
*Pattern of Wounds by Mark Bertrand (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
*The Queen by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

VISIONARY
*The Chair by Jim Rubart (B&H Publishing Group)
Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group USA)
Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

YOUNG ADULT
How Huge the Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn (Kregel Publications)
Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)
Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren (David C Cook)

The Christy Awards are also online at: 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChristyAward 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChristyAward

2011 Christy Award Winners Announced

The Christy Award winners were announced earlier this evening in Atlanta during the International Christian Retail Show. These awards are given annually in order to honor and promote excellence in Christian fiction.

I've read twelve of the finalists, and five of the winners and, while I might be a tad disappointed that my favorite (A Season of Miracles) didn't win, all the winners justly earned their victory.

Congratulations to the following finalists and *Winners:

Contemporary Romance
*SWORN TO PROTECT by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)
Blood Ransom by Lisa Harris (Zondervan)
Indivisible by Kristin Heitzmann (WaterBrook Press)

Contemporary Series
*THE RELUCTANT PROPHET by Nancy Rue (David C. Cook)
The Thorn by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House Publishers)
The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell Books)

Contemporary Standalone
*ALMOST HEAVEN by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)
Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner (WaterBrook Press)
A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

First Novel
*HEARTLESS by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers)
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)
A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

Historical
*WHILE WE'RE FAR APART by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers)
Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther by Ginger Garrett (David C. Cook)
For Time & Eternity by Allison Pitman (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical Romance
*THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers)
She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell (Bethany House Publishers)
Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers)

Suspense
*THE BISHOP by Steven James (Revell Books)
The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker (Center Street)
Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)

Visionary
*TO DARKNESS FLED by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)
Konig's Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press)
The Last Christian by David Gregory (WaterBrook Press)

Young Adult
*MOTORCYCLES, SUSHI, AND ONE STRANGE BOOK by Nancy Rue (Zondervan)
The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers (WaterBrook Press)
The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

2011 Christy Award Nominees Announced

For those of you who love to read exceptional fiction, the 2011 Christy Awards Nominees were announced this morning. This is one awards list I anticipate seeing as I do believe the Christy Award honors the best in Christian fiction.

It's always interesting to note which books I've already read (11 of them), which ones need to go on my gotta read list, which nominees I agree with (or disagree), and which books did they miss?

I'm thrilled to see A SEASON OF MIRACLES, one of my favorite books for 2010, on the list twice: once for Contemporary Standalone and once for First Novel. ALMOST HEAVEN by Chris Fabry and THE BISHOP by Steven James are two other titles I'm rooting for.

I'm disappointed that Lisa Samson's RESURRECTION IN MAY and River's Jordan's THE MIRACLE OF MERCY LAND failed to make the list. In historical romance, I would have loved to see Laura Frantz's COURTING MORROW LITTLE nominated. All exceptional novels.

The one category I wish they'd change or, rather, diversify, is Contemporary--and I say this for book awards across the board as most are guilty of the miscategorization (in my opinion). I'll never understand how Amish fits into Contemporary. That's like comparing apples to cucumbers. Right now there are enough Amish books and authors to create its very own category. If Amish had its own category, perhaps there would have been room for true contemporaries such as Resurrection in May and Mercy Land.

I'd love to know your thoughts. How many of the Christy Awards nominees have you read? What are your favorites? Which do you still want to read? Did they miss any of your favorite novels?

2010 Christy Award Winners

Christy Awards are given annually for books that achieve excellence in Christian fiction. The winners were announced last night in St. Louis, Missouri.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you for advancing Christian fiction.

Contemporary Romance
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Series, Sequels & Novellas
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson (Thomas Nelson)

Contemporary Standalone
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)

First Novel
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster)

Visionary
By Darkness  Hid by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Young Adult
North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

2010 Christy Award Finalists Announced

Each year, Christy Awards are given to writers whose novel has demonstrated excellence in Christian fiction. I look forward to reading this list every year, hoping to see my favorite books, and wondering which ones I've missed reading.

I'm pleased to see that the nominees include a number of books I reviewed over the past year, several of which are on my all-time favorite reads list. To revisit those reviews, just click on the title: Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth, The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson, The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry, Scared by Tom Davis. Two additional finalists, June Bug (a modern day retelling of Les Miserables) by Chris Fabry and Fireflies in December (poignantly portrays the horror of prejudice in the 1930's) by Jennifer Erin Valent are on my all-time favorite reads list. (see my Highly Recommend Reading list in the sidebar)

Of course, there are always a few additional titles I believe are worthy of a Christy: White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner is a story that peeks beyond the pristine fences of a normal family and finds that fences only mask the truth, and The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz.

So, if you love to read and are looking for the novel that goes deeper, that's willing to challenge you and provoke thinking, then check out the Christy Awards.

For a complete list of finalists, visit Inkspirational Messages.